ST. GEORGE, Utah — Devyn Cretz tossed a two-hit shutout and Linnah Rebolledo added three hits as Utah Valley University pulled away late with an 8-0, six-inning win over Utah State University at the Dixie State Classic on Friday. The win gives the Wolverines their first 2-0 start since the 2013 season, following a 4-3 win earlier in the day over Montana. 
 
Cretz, who picked up a save earlier in the day against Montana, struck out seven and retired the final 13 batters she faced. 
 
"It was nice to get off to a good start," said second-year head coach Stacy May-Johnson. "Our team played hard through a couple of close games against tough opponents. I'm really proud of the fight in this team."
 
With two outs and nobody on in the third, Aubree Hogan worked the count full before drawing a walk. Siena Sandoval singled to right to put runners on and Rebolledo tripled to right to score both runs and make it a 2-0 contest. That score stood until the Wolverines ended it early with six runs in the sixth.

Sandoval led off the bottom of the sixth with her first career home run, a solo shot, after fouling of five straight two-strike pitches. Jaeden Barajas had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly that later scored Rebolledo, who singled earlier in the inning. Emery Nielson followed her with a two-run home run, the first of her Wolverine career, that also scored Peyton Prigge and gave UVU a six-run lead. Madison Carr and Jade Miller followed with consecutive singles before Basia Query ended it with a two-run triple to right. Query, Sandoval, and Nielson each had two hits for UVU, with Query, Rebolledo and Nielson driving in two runs apiece.

The Wolverines continue the weekend with an 11 a.m. MT start against BYU and a 4 p.m. MT start against Nevada on Saturday.